Description

While ecosystem restoration of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests represents a worthy ideal, it is not always a practical alternative for landowners. Agroforestry systems, which can be developed in existing agricultural land, natural forest stands, plantations, or pasturelands, offer the opportunity to provide multiple benefits: high value timber production, continual agricultural production, and improved wildlife habitat when compared to agricultural land. The possibilities for multiple income sources associated with agroforestry are plentiful and, for forest landowners, may mean the difference between profit and loss in times of commodity price fluctuations. Agroforestry can provide a range of income alternatives, including agricultural products, wildlife, medicinal plants, mushrooms, carbon credits, pine straw or biofuels, providing landowners with a stable income until the trees become merchantable. We discuss alternative income possibilities and the necessity to locate and secure dependable markets to supply a steady cash flow for forest landowners.